§ MR. O'DONNELLasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to an alleged necessity of appointing to the post of Secretary of the Customs a person having qualifications outside the ordinary experience of the Customs, Whether Mr. Walpole, the assistant-secretary, has performed most important duties outside the ordinary experience of the Customs; whether Mr. Walpole has represented this Country in three conferences abroad; whether Mr. Walpole's services on those occasions received the marked approval of two successive Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs and of Her Majesty's Government; and, whether it is true that the sugar trade, which was the industry represented at those conferences, signified to Her Majesty's Government their warm acknowledgments of the ability and zeal displayed by Mr. Walpole in those negotiations; also, with reference to the alleged advancement of Mr. Walpole to a salary of £1,000 per annum, in compensation for the introduction of Mr. Herbert Murray into the Secretaryship of the Board of Customs, whether, since Mr. Walpole's salary already figures on the Estimates for the current year at £925, rising to £1,000, the Treasury, in awarding Mr. Walpole the immediate salary of £1,000, together 678 with a gift of about £150, has fairly compensated that gentleman for the loss of the Secretaryship, and the other members of the Secretary's staff for the loss of their promotion?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GLADSTONE)Sir, this Question is founded on a misapprehension. So far as I know, the duties upon which Mr. Walpole was engaged on various occasions were inside, and not outside, the ordinary duties of his office, though not within the routine of those duties. With regard to his services, and the acknowledgment of them by Secretaries of State, I am not in a position to answer that part of the Question, nor could it be answered without laborious search in the Department. With respect to the approval of his ability and zeal by the members of the sugar trade, it may be so, but I am not able to say. I should not, however, attach very much importance to that, as the trade has been actuated by very peculiar views of these proceedings as to the sugar duties. It is true that Mr. Walpole has taken part in several conferences—three, I think—and that his conduct has been approved by the Treasury. With regard to the latter Question of the hon. Member, it is absolutely necessary that the Government should take their stand on this position, that however desirous they may be to promote from within a Department, the public interests absolutely require that they should retain in their own hands the power of making appointments from the outside.
§ MR. O'DONNELLasked whether the clerks in the Customs Department had memorialized the Treasury, protesting against the appointment of, a stranger, and whether the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer would lay a Copy of the Memorial on the Table of the House?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GLADSTONE)Sir, I have received that Memorial, but I am not at all prepared to say I should lay it on the Table. I do not think it would be a good precedent in the working of the Executive Government.
§ MR. O'DONNELLgave Notice that he would move for the production of the Memorial, and also for Copies of the strong expressions of approval of Mr. Walpole's conduct by his official superiors.